Grandparents Beware: 'Relative In Distress' Scam Targets Local Seniors
The FBI announced today that an infamous computer-related scam known as the "relative in distress" or "grandparents" scam is targeting senior citizens in Los Angeles.
Steven Martinez, the FBI's assistant director in charge of the L.A. field office, told L.A. Now that SoCal provides a "target-rich environment" for overseas scam artists.
Three L.A.-area grandparents received "fear-inducing" calls informing them that their grandchild was in jail or involved in a terrible car accident. Callers asked for money for legal bills or operations.
In total, the trio of elderly targets wired $30,000 to overseas accounts, including the countries of Lebanon, Spain, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Peru.
Calls from "victims" are made daily to sources mined via social media networks, phone books and public records. A San Diego couple, who fell victim to the scam in June, lost over $12,000 during “36 hours of hell."
Four ways to avoid becoming a victim, according to U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr., are as follows: ask detailed questions, investigate claims, communicate with family members and know that personal information made public can be manipulated.
